For a long time, the word ________ was used by humans to insult someone's intellectual capability.
Months later, Mei received a package containing the muddy notebook. Inside, on the last page, was a note: "We watch you as much as you watch us. — A friend." Mei looked up at the elm, where the flock had settled into evening chorus. One crow cocked its head, as if acknowledging her. The human world and the corvid world had become partners in curiosity: a shared experiment that revealed intelligence not as a solitary spark but as a web woven from memory, culture, and cooperation. For a long time, the word ________ was
Perhaps the most striking demonstration of corvid intelligence is their ability to use and manufacture tools. The New Caledonian crow, for instance, is known to craft hooks from twigs to extract insects from tree bark. Unlike instinctive behaviours, this skill is learned and refined through observation and experience. In controlled experiments, these crows have spontaneously bent wires into hooks to retrieve out-of-reach food, a feat not mastered by most primates without training. Similarly, rooks have been observed dropping stones into a water-filled tube to raise the water level – a behaviour reminiscent of Aesop’s fable – indicating an understanding of cause and effect. — A friend
The physiological foundation of corvid intelligence lies within their brain structure. For decades, biologists assumed that because birds lack the layered cerebral cortex found in mammals, they were incapable of higher-order processing. Neuroscientists have since discovered that corvids possess an structurally dense cluster of neurons known as the nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL). The NCL serves an analogous functional role to the human prefrontal cortex. This region acts as the primary hub for executive functioning, working memory, and behavioral flexibility. Furthermore, when measured relative to total body mass, the brain-to-body ratio of a common raven is comparable to that of a chimpanzee. This structural optimization allows corvids to execute complex mental operations without requiring the massive physical brain size seen in large mammals. Paragraph C and working memory. Gram for gram
The Myth of the 'Bird Brain'For generations, the phrase "bird brain" was used as a derogatory term to describe someone of low intelligence. This insult was rooted in early anatomical studies which revealed that birds lack a cerebral cortex—the layered structure in mammalian brains responsible for high-level cognition. However, modern neuroscientists discovered that corvids possess a densely packed cluster of neurons known as the nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL). The NCL functions analogously to the mammalian prefrontal cortex, acting as the command center for executive functions, decision-making, and working memory. Gram for gram, a crow’s brain has a neuron density that rivals or exceeds that of many primates, enabling complex information processing within a highly compact space.
Complete the sentences below. Choose from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in boxes 7–10 on your answer sheet.
In conclusion, I strongly disagree with the statement that animals are not capable of complex thought or problem-solving. The intelligence of corvids and other animal species demonstrates that they are capable of sophisticated cognitive abilities, and we should recognize and respect their intelligence.